The IRS Uniform Lifetime Table determines your annual required minimum distribution percentage
The Details
The divisor drops by exactly 0.9 each year from 73-75, then switches to 0.8 annual decreases through age 81. This accelerating pattern means your withdrawal percentage jumps 32% from age 73 to 80, forcing distributions that may push you into higher tax brackets and trigger IRMAA surcharges.
What this means for you
Retirement decisions compound — getting one of these details wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. The good news: most of these mistakes are completely avoidable if you understand how the rule actually works.
Next step
If you want to see how this applies to your specific situation, take the free
Retire Ready Score — a 2-minute assessment that scores your current plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection.
